"Consumers have spoken," said Redner's spokesman Eric White. "The resounding call is: 'We do not want to purchase it.' And we hear them."

Public concern over pink slime exploded last week after news media reported that 111.5 million pounds of the product would appear in school lunches.

Defending its school lunch policy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture initially argued that it only buys food that is safe, nutritious and affordable. However, it later backed down, saying school districts would be able to opt out of "pink slime."

The American Meat Institute refers to pink slime as "lean finely textured beef." The institute's president, J. Patrick Boyle, described in a recent news release how the product is made:

"Beef companies use beef trimmings, the small cuts of beef that remain when larger cuts are trimmed down. These trimmings are USDA-inspected, wholesome cuts of beef that contain both fat and lean and are nearly impossible to separate using a knife. When these trimmings are processed, the process separates the fat away and the end result is nutritious, lean beef. It's a process similar to separating cream from milk.

"One process uses food grade ammonium hydroxide gas, something commonly used in the production of many foods, to destroy bacteria."

Boyle also took issue with the media's characterization of the product as an "additive."

"LFTB is simply a beef product that starts with wholesome, inspected trimmings," he said.

Such reasoning, however, has apparently carried little sway in the court of public opinion.

Sharon Hanuschak of Orefield said she could smell the ammonia and didn't know what it was.

"I've thrown away pounds and pounds of ground beef," said Hanuschak as she left the Allentown Giant on Emmaus Avenue. "I've smelled it, it's disgusting. It just doesn't belong with food, it belongs in a cleaning bottle."

In its press release, Giant, which also owns and operates Martin's grocery stores, said, "Many of our customers have voiced concern. … We value the trusted relationship we have with our customers and their feedback on this issue."

Bottom Dollar cited "consumer preferences and feedback" for its decision.

"We are currently working with our suppliers on an immediate transition plan based on product availability," the company said in a press release.

Weis, too, said it was working with suppliers to make the change.

Of the Valley's major grocers, Wegmans stands out for handling the situation differently. It has explained on its website that though some of its ground beef includes trimmings, the trimmings are not treated with ammonium hydroxide.

This difference, according to Wegmans, differentiates its trimmings from "pink slime."

Redners said it would stop buying beef with "pink slime" by the end of the month. Neither Giant, Weis nor Bottom Dollar provided specific dates.

"It makes me nauseated," said another Giant shopper, Rosanne Zgura of Macungie. She said she realizes she may now have to have pay more for ground beef. Asked if she'd rather pay more or eat "pink slime," she paused before responding, "I'll eat less beef."